Sad but necessary discussion. Just last year down toward our neck of the woods in Georgia and North Florida, there were several murders and some missing persons cases. One such situation involved an older retired couple that had taken a day hike off the Blue-ridge Parkway and went missing several days. The wife was discovered a few days after they went missing,she was dead from blunt force trauma. The husband was not found until about a year later after the arrest of some guy who subsequent to having murdered that couple, also went on to murder a young lady he met along a hiking trail down in Georgia. After his arrest, he was also connected to the murder of a lady in Florida who was found on state or national forestland. These folks and no telling how many like them most likely felt that being in the wilderness was one of the safest and most wholesome places one could be on the planet, unfortunately for these, that was a wrong belief. Then there is a current issue of the various drug related activities such as meth houses being set up in some of the most remote locations as well as in the middles of well populated cities. The point being that it isn't just in the cities or populated areas that one encounters serious threat or risk, it is increasingly risky to be even in some of the most serene and pristine not to mention remote wilderness areas. Here in Florida it was discovered that the state and national parks were becoming prime areas for opportunistic criminals, in that since law abiding citizens having been forbidden to carry weapons, these unarmed citizens presented a greater reward at less risk opportunity to the thugs. One last suggestion is that if one does decide to carry a weapon, they ought practice it safe carry and use. Be sure to practice with the same cartridges that you intend to carry in it for protection.
By the way, those who are carrying snake shot, be sure if you have not already done so, to test fire several of them to make sure they cycle properly in your weapon. I find that they aren't usually strong enough of a load to cycle my semi-auto, thus can sometimes jam the slide or leave the gun with a spent cartridge as I attempt the next shot. One other thought as well is that the law in Florida presumes that for one to legally use a gun in defense, they must consider the threat severe enough to warrant killing the individual who represents threat of bodily harm or death. In other words unlike the Lone Ranger, if our weapon is drawn and used, it can't be used to "wing" the thugs or if it has been one must not admit that to be the case. The basic premise being that if it wasn't necessary to kill them, you better not have drawn a weapon or shot them. In closing and in addition to that last thought, the civil liabilities for shooting even if justified can be staggering. The risk in court is often worse for those situations in which a thug lives to sue.
Having had a gun to my head a time or two as well as a knife to my throat (for no explainable reason), I can attest to the fact that one needs to be prepared as well as alert and use wisdom as to where one goes and when he or she goes there.
Mike
as my gramps said-- don't say it--do it or don't bother.
you can not just shoot him in the back since he no longer poses a "direct" threat. (damn shame but thats the law)
